insult

1 of 2

verb

in·​sult in-ˈsəlt 

insulted; insulting; insults

transitive verb

: to treat with insolence, indignity, or contempt : affront

also : to affect offensively or damagingly

doggerel that insults the reader's intelligence

intransitive verb

archaic : to behave with pride or arrogance : vaunt

insulter noun

insult

2 of 2

noun

in·​sult ˈin-ˌsəlt 

1

: a gross indignity : an instance of insolent or contemptuous speech or conduct

2

: injury to the body or one of its parts

also : something that causes or has a potential for causing such injury

pollution and other environmental insults

Synonyms of insult

Verb

• offend
• outrage

Noun

• sarcasm
• outrage
• indignity
• slap
• affront
• epithet

Choose the Right Synonym for insult

offend, outrage, affront, insult mean to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment.

offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

Examples of insult in a Sentence

Verb

She felt they had insulted her by repeatedly ignoring her questions.

We were greatly insulted by his rudeness.

They're understandably insulted when no one asks for their opinion on a matter that affects them so much.

Noun

The fans hurled insults at the referee as he walked off the field after the game.

Their decision to cancel the project was an insult to all my hard work.

They got into a fight over a minor insult.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Screenshots shared with The Charlotte Observer by Moore show Bogan has repeatedly messaged Reform Stables’ business associates or fellow event organizers with allegations about the stable and Moore, and insulted him online. — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026

Sigcho-Lopez then turned around to face aldermen sitting in the back row who appeared to be insulting him during the exchange. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Noun

According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle French or Latin; Middle French insulter, from Latin insultare, literally, to spring upon, from in- + saltare to leap — more at saltation

First Known Use

Verb

1540, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing insult

• add insult to injury
• insult someone's intelligence

Rhymes for insult

• adult
• consult
• exult
• occult
• result
• catapult
• subadult
• cult

Kids Definition

insult

1 of 2 verb

in·​sult in-ˈsəlt 

: to treat or speak to with disrespect or scorn

insulter noun

insult

2 of 2 noun

in·​sult ˈin-ˌsəlt 

: an act or expression showing disrespect or scorn

Etymology

Verb

from early French insulter "to insult," from Latin insultare "to insult, attack," literally "to leap upon," derived from in- "on, upon" and salire "to leap, spring" — related to assault, resilient

Word Origin

The phrase "to jump on" is used informally today to mean "to criticize or insult severely." The origin of the word insult also suggests the idea of jumping. Insult comes from the Latin verb insultare, literally meaning "to leap upon." It is made up of the prefix in-, meaning "on, upon," and a form of the verb salire "to leap." One of the first meanings of insult in English was "to make a military attack." That sense became obsolete, and insult now means to attack or "jump on" someone only with words of scorn or disrespect rather than with weapons.

Medical Definition

insult

noun

in·​sult ˈin-ˌsəlt 

1

: injury to the body or one of its parts

repeated acute vascular insults

any insult to the constitution of a patient suffering from active tuberculosis

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

2

: something that causes or has a potential for causing insult to the body

damage resulting from malnutritional insults

insult verb